:: in the waiting room, having a hard time sitting still. and yes, she did dress herself, if you were wondering :::: in the chair, ready to see Dr. Steve......the assistant was joking about how the bib was bigger than she was :::: opening wide like an alligator! :::: counting all our teethies :::: happy smiles! all healthy, and got to pick a pretty ring "like mommy's" as a prize ::

Monday, August 22, 2011

It is a special way for me to journal our lives and is a much need outlet for this mamma.

I am not a big blog reader. Yes, I have a couple dozen friends whose blogs I read regularly (and try to comment regularly too) and enjoy very much, but a while ago I deleted all the blogs written by people I don't know from my reader. I found I was spending so much time scrolling through random blogs and not enough time writing my own or doing other things that mean much more in life. When I do things, I'm not the type of person to do it half-heartedly, so "just flipping" through a blog isn't good enough. I need to read each word, each piece of advice, and laugh at each joke. And always found myself making comparisons, and wishing my blog was more like everyone elses.

For some reason the other night, when I should have been in bed, I popped over to the Jones Design Companyblog. I came to know about it through my SIL and it was the website that gave me the tutorial for the coffee filter wreath I made. This woman has a seriously beautiful house, is stunning herself, has hundreds of followers, and is ridiculously talented. All things I sometimes have a hard time believing I am or have.

I came across this post that she wrote and I just needed to share it with you (whoever "you" are). I think she truly hits the nail on the head when it comes to how we as women are so quick to compare, and judge ourselves, feel uncapable or worthless.

Pop on over and have read, and I hope you feel as uplifted as I did. It is such a well-worded reminder that even though my house isn't a big or as such-and-such as someone elses, or I might not think I write as well as someone else or have as many followers, that my value is not summed up in these things and that my talents and worth are as unique as a snowflake and as precious to the Father as yours and are something to hold in high esteem.

I hope you always feel uplifted, encouraged and blessed when you visit here. My heart is to share just how life is, and not to create the illusion that my life is anything but what it is.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

:: Little PJ playin' in the kidde pool. And no, that's not a tear in her eye, she climbed into the pool and face planted in the water ::
:: Denay keepin' cool ::
:: Denay swimming in Cowichan Lake all by herself ::

:: And again in Opa's pool ::
:: PJ and daddy getting ready for a swim ::
:: PJ in her floaty, lovin' the water. Reminds me of these photos of Denay just after she turned one ::

I've just started getting back into creating Paisley's scrapbook so here is fair warning that these post might become fewer and farther between :)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

I have absolutely no idea, where I first heard about these dolls. I do know, however, that I've wanted one for Denay since her first birthday, and finally got around to getting her one for her third. That being said, it didn't arrive in time, and she got it when daddy came up to Quadra a few weeks later.

This, is Denay's BabybeBlessed doll.....:: all perched on the dresser where she sleeps :::: Denay's scripture from Zephaniah ::These dolls are hand sewn by a group of Christian women who want to spread the love of Jesus, one doll at a time. Their about section on their website is quite beautiful and I'm pretty sure one of these babes will be Paisley's Christmas present!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

If you missed my spray-paint madness post, check it out here, and then this post will be much more fufilling and satisfiying to read....

I had originally planned to put the antique dutch portraits in the girls' playroom, but that got vetoed by the Mr. because he thought the room way too playful for them. So I spent all day yesterday, holding them on walls, shuffling things around in an attempt to find just the right spot for them. I tried them in our bedroom, thought Mr. would love them: notsomuch. So while he bathed the girls I was taking things of walls, plate out of holders and decor off of shelves. Nada, noffin, zippo. And then I found this spot.....Perfection. My antique portraits right above my funky (and oh-so-functional) antique mail bin (picked up in Rockaway Beach, OR) on my avocado souffle colored walls.So that leaves those adorable animal prints, which ended up right where I thought I was putting the portraits.This is mainly for my friend Loni, who ya'll might remember as the fantabulous photographer who captured my Paisley belly and our most recent family session. Before our family session with her, a Groupon landed in my email inbox for a 16x20 canvas print from Picture It On Canvas for $49. My SIL had used one back in December for my MIL's Christmas present so I already knew the quality I was getting. I bought one and the day I got our DVD of our session, picked out my favvy and got it ordered. After seeing the proof, and not liking how it completely cropped out all of the wonderful composition of the photo, I spend an extra $15 to upgrade to a 16x24. A few weeks later, the box arrived and it could not be more perfect!Thanks for making my walls so lovely Loni!

Friday, August 12, 2011

All thanks to our dear, dear friends who came to Denay's 3rd birthday party, we were able to lend Katherine $75. Along with eight other lenders, Katherine was given a loan for $300 in order to buy feed for the birds she raises and sells and be able to expand her flock in order to provide better for her family. She is 29-years-old and is a mom to young kids.

I was drawn to Katherine because she is a young mom, like myself, and being raised on a farm, I've got a special place in my heart for agriculture. You can visit her profile here.

If you've never heard of KIVA, it is an incredible organization that gives you an opportunity to lend money to entreprenuers from all over world, of every age and gender. Once your money is payed back, you can re-invest it into another business. It an amazing way to empower people who need it, to make a way for themselves and give them a helping hand, rather than a hand-out. AND you can start with a mere $25 loan, that will change someone's life.Please visit our family link here and get started with your own $25 loan. There are so many wonderful people you can help.

Monday, August 8, 2011

But it's true, I love spray paint. I love that I can take something given to me or found for a steal at the thrift store or a swap and using couple cents worth of paint, make it just what I want.

That's what I spent my afternoon doing yesterday!

:: I picked up these ADORABLE animal prints for a dollar for all four at a kids swap six months ago. Each frame was colored to match the print inside and I thought it was a little tacky but a five minutes worth of spraying and, SHAZAM, fresh and adorable and much more usable! :::: I picked these guys up for a buck or so at our church's annual youth garage sale in June and was able to past their, uhh, "look", and with a little white paint, they are actually half decent. I've not decided that I love them yet, so we will see if they stick around ::

:: These cutesies were a gift from my MIL and date back to the 50's. When I saw them I knew I'd want to use them in one of the kids' rooms and the black frames wouldn't do. I think the white frame gives it a new and fresh look and I think I've decided on hanging them in the play room ::

Go on, I dare you.

Go digging in your basement or attic or closet and I bet you'll find something old, that, with a quick coat of good spray paint (I bought mine at Benjamin Moore and it's the best stuff I've ever used), it can have a new look and you can get "new" decor for your home by freshening up things you already own!

Friday, August 5, 2011

:: on our way to the Anacortes Ferry :::: family shot :::: road tunes :::: meeting up with the in-laws :::: heading out from Olympia on Sunday morning :::: cr-AZY overpass, bypass, cloverleaf in Portland :::: arrival in Newport, OR ::

I am a farm girl by birth, a small town girl by choice and a lover of all things loveable - my Heavenly Father, my amazing husband, a super cute four-year-old girl and her unchable two-year-old sister, reading, blogging and scrapbooking, Frank Sinatra and Country music, a good comfy hoodie, and all things summertime.
I am a SAHM and Domestic Engineer. This, is my life.